Wire-fence machine.



T. @L E. KAVALAS.

WIRE FENCE MACHiNE.,

APPLICANON FILED nEc.s.1916.

1,227,272. Puteufed May 2Q, 19H.

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afented May 22, 1917.

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@Inman foi 'l @Hozwuj 'TOM KAVALAS AND EVANS KAVALAS, 0F ROCK FALLS, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed December 6, 1916. Serial No. 135,315.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, Toni KAvALAs and lvANs KAVALAS, subjects of Constantine', King of Greece, residing at Rock Falls. in the county of Vhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lire-F ence Machines, of which the following -is a specification.

Our invention has reference to wire fence machines, and is more speciall7 designed for the construction of ornamental fencing. such as is used to inclose a lawn or garden.

The construction, arrangement and operation of the various parts of our machine will more' fully appear from the following specification, reference being had to vthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of our invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the broken line of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows one end of the machine, in side elevation. Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail of one of the spindles 12.

1 represents the frame of the machine,

mounted on legs 2, and 3 is a main driveA shaft rotatably supported from kthe sidepieces of the frame. A cross-beam e1 is slidingly mounted on the side pieces of the frame l, movement being imparted thereto b v means of a pair of crank-arn'is 5, connecting the ends of said cross-beam with a pair of crank-wlieels G. on a shaft 7, journaled on the frame 1. Movement is imparted to the shaft 7 from the shaft 3 hv means of a belt S, connecting a pulle \v 9 on the shaft T with a pullev 10 on the shaft 3.

The beam l has a longitudinal channel 11. in which is rotatabl)Y mounted a series of spindles 12. provided centrall)v with pinions A13, adapted to be operated b v a rack 11.

slidable in the channel 11. A pair of shafts r 15 and 16 'are supported longitudinally of the machine. such shafts having fixed thereto at one end gear-wheels 1T and 18. in mesh with oppositely disposed gear-wheels 19 and 20 on the shaft' 3. whereby the shafts 15 and 16 are capable of being rotated in opposite directions. Fixedv on the shafts 15 and 16 are cams 21 and 22, which alternately enage an arm 23 projecting downwardly om the rack 14, imparting to such rack a reciprocating movement.

Each of the 'spindles 12. is providedl with a pair of perforations 24. through which are.

directed a pair of wires such wires entering the machine at one end between a pair of amount of twist.

Arollers 26 (one onluvv being shown), and thence pass through the spindles 12. over a roller 2T, and to a drum 28, upon which they.

are wound after having been provided with the cross-wires or pickets. The drum 28 is mounted on a shaft 29 supported from the frame 1. and provided at one end with a bevel-gear wheel 30, actuated by a bevel-gear wheel 31 on the end of a shaft 32, supported in bearings 33 Xed to the frame 1. The op posite end of the shaft has fixed thereon a bevel-gear wheel 3-1, driven by a similar wheel on the end of the shaft 3. Movement is thus imparted from the shaft I5 to the drum 2S, to suitably rotate the same.

The cams 21 and 22 arelocated so as to engage the arm 23 when the cross-beam l is at the end of its outer movement, and' the rack 14 is thereby moved inone direction or the other, to give to the wires the desired Just prior to the move ment of such rack one of the pickets 3G or 53T is placed in position between the several pairs of wires, the rotation of the spindles 12 operating to coil the wires adjacent to the pickets and hold the same tightlY in place. 'hen the'next succeeding picket is placed in position the wires 25 are twisted in the opposite direction, the wires being thus alternatel)v twistedto the right and left.

when the picket is being inserted it is necessaiwv that the machine be stationary. To accomplish this, a lever 38 is fulcrumed on the frame 1 and provided at its inner end with a brake 39. which is adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 10 on the shaft 3, and hold such shaft from movement. Such brake is held normally in engagement with said wheel by means of a coiled spring 11 connecting the outer end of the lever 3S with the 'frame' 1. At one side of the machine near the point where the operator stands, is a foot-lever 42, connectedswith the outer end of the lever 38 by means of a cord 13, passing over rollers 41 and 45 on the frame. 'hen the operator has inserted one offthe pickets he presses the lever, 42 downwardly, disengaging the brake 39, and permitting the mechanism to operate. In order that this may be accomplished the shaft 3 must possess a slow movement and low power.

Above theshaft is rotatably mounted a shaft 4G, provided at one end with a gear` wheel 47 innnesh with andL actuated by a.

il if similar wheel Li8 on the shaft 32. At its opposite end the shaft 46 has fixed thereto a spur-wheel 49, the spurs of which are capable of successively engaging one end of a lever 50, fulcrumed on the frame 1 and provided at its opposite end with a hook 5l, which is adapted to engage the lever 38, after the bralte is disengaged, and hold the same from being reiugaged with the wheel during the operation of the spindles 12. Upon the continued -rotation,of the spur wheel 49 the end of the lever slips past the spur with which it is engaged` and the hook being pulled up by the springr 52, the brake' is again permitted. to operate, stepping the machine for the insertion of the nextpicket.

The complete operation of the machine is as follows: Each of the spindles 12 being provided witha pair of the wires 25 and the ends of such wires being suitably secured to the drum 28, the operator, who stands at' the side of the machine convenient to the toot-lever 42, inserts a. picket between the several pairs of wires. :At this time the spindles are disposed with the wires in vertical alinement, forconveniencein inserting the picket between the same. The lever 42 is then operated to release the brake mechanism and start the machine, whereupon the spindles are simultaneously rotated in the samel direction, resulting in each pair of wires 25 being provided with two o r three twists between the picket and spindles. At the same time the beam 4 moves in the direction of the picket, forcing the twists tightly together at a point adjacent thereto. (foineident with this movement the shaft 32 is given a partial rotation, which is imparted to the drum 28, causing the wires to be drawn in the direction of the drum. Vhen such wires have been moved a distance equaling the space between two of the pickets one at the spurs of the wheel 49 disengagcs the inver 50, permitting the brake mechanism to operate, and stopping the movement of the machine. Prior to the stoppage of the machine the beam 4 is returned to its former position, with the wires ready to receive another picket. In each operation of the machine the direction of rotation of the spindles is reversed, so that the wires are twisted in contrary directions on opposite sides ot' each of the pickets.

That we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a frame, a cross-beam slidablymounted thereon; a plurality of spindles rotatably supported by said cross-beam and each provided with perforations tor the passage of a. pair of wires; gear-pinions fixed to said spindles; a gear-rack slidably mounted in lsaid crosssbeam, in mesh with said spindles; means for imparting to said cross-beam a reciprocating movement; and mea'ns for suitably operating said gear-rack.

2. A deviceof the class described, comprising a suitably mounted frame; mechanism for conveying a plurality of wires longitudinally therethrough; a cross-beam slidably mounted on said frame, and provided with a longitudinal channel; a plurality of spindles mounted in said channel, having perforations for the passage of saidiwires in pairs; gear-pinions fixed on said spindles; a rack-bar slidable longitudinally of said cross-beam, and adapted to actuate said spindles; means for suitably operating said rack-bar; and means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said cross-beam.

3.' A device of the class described, comprising a suitably mounted frame; a main drive-shaft mounted therein; a drum rotatably mounted in one end of said frame, and adapted to draw a' plurality of wires therethrough; gearing operatively connecting said drum with said drive-shaft; a crossbeam slidably mounted on said frame and providedl with a longitudinal channel; a cross-shaft journaled on said trame and actuated by said drive-shaft; crank-wheels on the end of said cross-shaft operatively connected with said cross-beam, to impart a reciprocating movement thereto; wiretwisting mechanism carried by said crossbeam; and means for suitably actuating said mechanism. y

4. A device of the class described, comprising a suitably mounted frame; a main drive-shaft mounted therein; wire-conveying mechanism operatively connected with said drive-shaft; a cross-beam slidably mounted on said frame and provided with a longitudinal channel; a cross-shaft journaled on said frame and actuated by said drive-shaft; crank-wheels on the ends ot' said cross-shaft operatively connected with the ends of said cross-beam to give a recip rocating movement thereto; a plurality of spindlesl mounted in said channel, each adapted for the passage of a pair or' wires; gear-pinions on said spindles; a rack-bar in engagement with said pinions; means for suitably actuating said rack-bar; and means for interrupting the movement of said drive-shaft.

5. A device ot' the class described, comprising,r a suitably mounted frame; a main drive-shaft mounted therein; wire conveying devices operatively connected with said drive-shaft; a cross-beam slidably mounted on said frame and provided with a longitudinal channel; a plurality of spindles mounted in said channel, adapted each for the passage of a pair of wires; gear-p inions on said spindles; a rack-bar in engagement with said pinions; means for reciprocating said cross-beam upon the rotation of said drive-shaft; means for suitably operating brake-lever; and auxiliary means for holding said brake-lever out of engagement With said brake; operatively releasable from the 1 movement of the driving mechanism.

A prising a suitably mounted frame; a'main' 6. A device of the class described, com'- drive-shaft mounted therein; a cross-beamslidably mounted 'onv said frame; a crossshaft actuated by said drive-shaft; crank- Wheels on the ends of said shaft, operatively connected with said cross-beam; Wire twisting devices carried by said cross-beam;

means for suitably operating said twisting devices; abrake-wheel fixed onsaid driveshaft; a brake lever fulcrumed on said frame and normally in' engagement:v With said brake-Wheel; a shaft mounted on saidframe and operatively connected with said -drive-shaft; a spur-Wheel fixed on said lastnamed shaft; a hook-lever fulcrum'ed on said frame, operable at one of its ends by said spur-wheel, and adapted to engage said brake-lever at its opposite end; and means for actuating said brake-lever with the 'foot' of the operator.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a suitablymounted frame; a main drive-shaft mounted therein; 4vvire `conveying devices operatively connected With said drive-shaft; a cross-beam slidable on said frame and provided With a longitudinal -channel; a plurality of spindles mounted in said channel; gear-pinions fixed on said spindles; a rack-barl in engagement' with said pinions and provided With'a down- Wardy projectingarm; aA pairof longitudinal shafts operatively connected with said drive-shaft s0 as to turn in opposite direc tions; means for suitably reciproca-tingr said irossbeam; and a pair of cams'on said longiudinal shafts adapted to alternately engage the arm of said rack-bar when said crossbeam is at the end of its outer movement.

In testimony whereof We aiiix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

TOM. KAVALAS. Evans .KAvALAs 

